The National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) today hosted a team from the AMPATH Flow Cytometry Program (AFCP) for a meeting with the NCI-K leadership. The team was received by the Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Directorate, Dr. Nashat Fadhloon Noor.
The engagement focused on strengthening collaboration and advancing cancer diagnosis through specialized laboratory technologies, including flow cytometry, which plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of several cancers, particularly haematological malignancies.
Key areas discussed included:
- Recognition of flow cytometry as an essential specialized cancer diagnostic service.
- Adoption of panel-based reimbursement rather than individual antibody-based reimbursement.
- Appropriate reimbursement for immunohistochemistry (IHC) panels.
- Development of national technical and quality standards for specialized cancer diagnostics.
- Establishment of coordinated specimen-referral pathways.
- Recognition of qualified reference laboratories to support testing, training and quality assurance.
The AMPATH delegation included Dr. Teresa Lotodo, Lead Pathologist and Chair, Pathology Department, Moi University & Medical Director, Flow Cytometry Laboratory; Raphael Koima, AFCP Program Manager/Coordinator; Dr. Gilbert Olbara, Lead Clinician and Head of Paediatric Oncology, MTRH; Dr. Ronald Tonui, Director, AMPATH Reference Laboratory; and Nicholas Kigen, Lead Laboratory Scientist, ARL.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of strategic partnerships, innovation and strengthened diagnostic capacity in improving early and accurate cancer diagnosis and ultimately advancing Kenya’s cancer response.
NCI-K remains committed to building partnerships that strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care towards a cancer-free nation.
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